Automatic stop device



Sept. 15, 1936. BURNS 2,054,240

AUTOMATIC STOP DEVICE Filed Dec. 14, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY.

Sept. 15, 1936. J BURNS 2,054,240

AUTOMATIC STOP DEVICE Filed Dec. 14, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

' geg 51117 ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 15, 1936 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC srorDEVICE.

Fred J. Burns, Saginaw, Mich., assignor to The Columbia Mills, Inc.,Saginaw, Mich., a corporation of New York Application December 14, 1934,Serial No. 757,491

4 Claims.

up rollers, porch shades, blinds of large area.

which usually require roller lifts, and in fact on any structure where afoolproof positive holding or locking device is required.

One of the prime objects of the invention is to design a very simple andpractical mechanism which when used in connection with Venetian blinds,bottom-up rollers, or porch shades, will eliminate the necessity oftying or winding the lifting cords on a cord knob, and which wheninstalled on end pull operated blinds can be completely concealed fromview if desired.

Another object is to provide a locking device which is fully, automaticin operation, and which is positive and dependable in action regardlessof the size of the blind, and in any position within the range ofmovement of the blind.

Still another object is to provide an automatic stop which can be usedin connection with either end or front pull operated blinds, which canbe disposed at an angle with relation to the head rail, so that itconforms to the normal angle or direction of pull of the lifting cords,thussecuring perfect alignment, and provide cord separating means whicheliminates the possibility of the cords fouling and overriding eachother, and insures the centering of the cords on the sheave so that asmooth even operation is secured.

A further object is to provide a very simple, practical, compact, andpositive locking means which tightly grips the cords without undue wearor fraying, which eliminates slippage, which can be quickly and easilyreleased when desired, and which is smooth and velvety in operation.

A still further object is to provide a cord looking means which ispractically instantaneous in operation, which is composed of few parts,all of simple and rugged construction, which can be readily manufacturedand assembled, and which can be quickly mounted on a head rail or othersupport.

With the above and other objects in view, this invention consists in thenew and useful provision, formation, construction, combination, andinter-relation of parts, members and features, all as hereinafterdisclosed, shown in the drawings, and finally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings Fig. l is a front elevation of a Venetian blind, showingmy improved locking device in place thereon.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional end view.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail front view of the locking device, the solidlines showing the locking member out of engagement with the cord, thebroken lines showing it in looking position.

Fig. 5 is an .end view with the lifting cords omitted.

Fig. 6 is an opposite end view.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view showing the device used in connection with afront pull operated' blind.

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional end view.

Fig. 9 is a front view illustrating the device being used in connectionwith bottom-up rollers.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged, transverse sectional view through the head jamband casing.

For the purpose of illustration, I have shown the device in connectionwith a Venetian blind and a bottom-up roller respectively, it beingunderstood that this is for explanatory purposes only, and that it canbe used on other similar structures or devices which fall within thescope of the claims hereunto appended.

Referring more specifically to Fig. 1 of the drawings in which I haveshown an end pull operated blind, the numeral 15 indicates a windowcasing or opening in which a Venetian blind I6 is mounted. This blind isof conventional design and comprises a head rail ll supported on endbrackets 18 as usual; a blind tilting mechanism I9 is secured to one endof the head rail, and a tilt bar 20 is secured thereto, the opposite endbeing supported in the bracket 2| which is hung from the head rail asusual.

Ladder tapes 22 are secured to the tilt bar in spaced relation, and aplurality of superimposed slats 23 are mounted therein, lifting cords 24being anchored to the bottom rail 25 of the blind, thence being threadedthrough suitable openings (not shown) in the slats, and thence the cordslead upwardly and are trained over sheaves 26 which are mounted in thegroove 21 of the head rail, and thence over the automatic stop B whichis mounted in the recessed end 28 of said rail.

The locking device proper is preferably formed of stampings andcomprises the U-shaped bracket 29, the spaced apart legs of which are ofunequal length, each leg terminating in a horizontally disposed flange30, which is provided with suitable openings to accommodate screws 3|for securing the device in position, the bracket being set at an anglewith relation to the head rail and for a purpose to be presentlydescribed. A transversely disposed pin 32 is mounted in the bracket 29,and a sheave member 33 is journaled thereon, bosses 34 being pressed inthe legs of the bracket and serve to center the sheave on the pin,thelifting cords 24 leading over the sheave 33, and thence extendingdownwardly so that they are within easy reach for operating.

A horizontally disposed pin 35 is also mounted on the bracket legs, anda. locking yoke 36 is pivotally connected thereto, the end wall 31 ofthe locking yoke being toothed or corrugated as shown at 38, so that ittightly grips the cord when it is swung up to position, the edges 39 ofthe end wall being shaped to accommodate and provide clearance for therim of the sheave 33.

To prevent the overriding or twisting of the cords, I provide aseparator member 40, and this is mounted in a groove 4| provided in thebottom wall of the bracket, and is preferably welded in position, thefree end projecting outwardly and upwardly so that the cords areeffectively separated.

In practice and when it is desired to raise the slats, the operatorgrasps the lifting cords and pulls the slats up to desired position; thecords are then either released or swung slightly in a direction towardsthe toothed surface of the looking yoke to bring them into engagementtherewith. Frictional engagement of the cords with the yoke swings itupwardly to position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 of the drawings,wedging the cords tightly between the face of the sheave and the toothedsurface of said locking yoke, and the greater the pull or weight of theblind, the more firmly the locking yoke wedges and grips the cords; thelocking action is almost instantaneous, and consequently there is noshock or jar, which is an important consideration.

When the blind is in locked position, the release is accomplished bymerely exerting a normal downward pull on the cords; this swings theyoke down and out of engagement with the cords, and the blind can beraised or lowered as desired.

When the device is used in connection with end pull operated blinds, theposition or angle of the sheave 33 with relation to the tilt rail is ofparticular importance, as it brings the cords in harmony with the lineof pull, prevents overriding, insures smooth operation, and the devicecan be completely concealed from view.

In Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings I have shown the device mounted on afront pull operated blind, the head rail l1 being provided with atransversely disposed groove 42 which opens into the groove 21, a plateor bracket 43 being mounted on the head rail, and a vertically disposedpin 44 is mounted in said plate, a sheave 45 being journaled on the pin,and the lifting cords are trained around said sheave. The front end ofthe plate overhangs the head rail, the edges 46 being bent downwardlyand form a support for the sheave and locking yoke respectively,otherwise the construction is identical with that shown in Figs. 1 to 6inclusive.

' In Figs. 9 and 10 I have shown the device used in connection with abottom-up roller, the numeral 41 indicating a conventional windowcasing, and brackets 48 are secured. to the lower end thereof andaccommodate a conventional bottom-up shade roller 49 on which the shade50 is wound, an operating cord 5| being ancliored to the one end of theshade, thence leading up and over the locking device B which is mountedon the head jamb 52, the end of the cord being free so that it can bereadily grasped by the operator, the operation of the locking device.being exactly the same as hereinbefore described.

From the foregoing description it will be clearly obvious that I haveperfected a very simple and practical combination automatic stop device,which can be used on blinds, shades, bottom-up rollers, and similarstructures, which is fully automatic, extremely smooth in operation,which can be locked from any position, and which is very economical tomanufacture and install.

What I claim is:

1. An automatic stop device adapted to be mounted on the head rail of aVenetian blind,

and comprising a U-shaped bracket having a sheave journaled therein andover which the blind lifting cords are trained, a locking yoke pivotallymounted on the bracket and formed with a toothed inner face, and aseparator projecting outwardly from and secured to the lower edge ofsaid bracket, to separate the cords and form a support for thefree endof the locking yoke.

2. An automatic stop device comprising a U- shaped bracket, a sheavejournaled in said bracket, a locking yoke pivotally mounted on saidbracket at a point below and in the rear of the sheave shaft, and anoutwardly projecting cord separator comprising a single rod secured tothe lower edge of the bracket with the projecting end forming a supportfor the free end of the locking yoke.

3. An automatic stop device of the character described and comprising aU-shaped bracket having legs of unequal length, a sheave journaledbetween the legs of said bracket, a locking yoke pivotally mounted onsaid bracket and at a point in the rear of and below the sheave shaft,and an outwardly projecting cord separator mounted on the lower edge ofsaid bracket for separating the cords and supporting the free end of thelocking yoke.

4. An automatic stop device of the character described and comprising aU-shaped bracket formed with legs of unequal length, a sheave journaledbetween said legs and over which the blind cords are trained, a U-shapedlocking yoke pivotally mounted on the bracket at a point below and inthe rear of the sheave shaft, and formed with a toothed inner face, anda horizontally disposed cord separator comprising a single red securedto the bottom of the bracket and projecting outwardly therefrom. toseparate said cords and form a support for the free end of the

